Bernd Boente: Wladimir will not be forced into a fight with Povetkin!

Bernd Boente (left) with Wladimir (right).

Unified heavyweight world champion Wladimir Klitschko's manager Bernd Boente claims that his fighter will not be forced into a bout with the WBC "super" champion Alexander Povetkin.

Povetkin fought last Saturday against Hasim Rahman in a completely one-sided bout that Povetkin ended up winning by second round KO. The Russian's promoter, Sauerland Event, spoke after the bout and claimed that Wladimir had been given to the end of February 2013 to face Povetkin or he will be stripped of his WBA title. "Dr Steelhammer's" next defence comes against Maruisz Wach on November 10th in Hamburg.

Team Klitschko have denied the WBA's mandate and claims Wladimir has up until the end of the July and even then he will only take the best fight possible.

This is what Bernd Boente had to say: "The WBA gave us a period of two years from the time of the David Haye fight [July 2011] to make a mandatory defence. In other words, up to July 2013. Povetkin's not a true champion, he's the same, a normal contender. We will not allow anyone to force us to do anything."

By Jack Price @PriceyJ97.